Handyman Tip On How To Cut A Hole In Your Wall
Most people are a little afraid to cut a hole in their wall, and with good reason. It makes this handyman nervous to cut a hole in a wall too. However, there are times when you will, for example, want to install a dog door through a wall and the cutting must be done.
I always cut the interior drywall surface first. It allows you to use a shallow cut to see what lies behind the proposed location. A drywall saw tilted so that just the tip goes slightly into the wall is usually safe. Once the drywall is removed, you can see if there are any potential problems to work around.
For cutting through stucco, I like a 4" grinder with a masonry blade or a carborundum blade. Since the small blades are circular, they allow you to cut shallowly into the wall. You want to avoid cutting blindly in a wall for fear of hitting an electrical cable, a gas line or a pipe. Even using a circular saw is safer than using, for example, a reciprocating saw. With a reciprocating saw, you will blindly be cutting through the surface which is dangerous.
For wood surfaces, you can still use a circular saw to cut the wall. Place the toe of the saw against the wall and slowly lower the spinning blade into the wall. Make sure you wear eye, ear, and breathing protection.